Hey everyone I'm new to this forumn but not to hunting. I'm from MN but was recently stationed out west in NM by the Air Force. Being new to western hunting, and actually having some substantal disposable income for the first time in my life I'm looking to buy some quality optics. Right now all I have is a set of Swift 10X50 binoculars which seem decent to me in my limited experience so I was planning on buying a spotting scope first. I'm starting to reevaluate this though, as most of areas near where I live (Alamogordo NM) seem to less open and more forested than I expected. So basically I'm looking for opinions first as to whether I should buy better binoculars or a spotting scope and second, recommendations on specific models. I'm looking to spend $400-$700. So far I've looked at spotting scopes and am thinking either a Nikon prostaff or a Leupold. Any other suggestions? Thanks for your help.

I've had several different spotting scopes over the years, got one now. But I have never carried one of those clumbsy things hunting with me. I do carry a set of 7x35 Bushnell's and sometimes they are more than I want to carry.

Been hunting NE New Mexico for 10 years and can tell you get the best binos that money can buy. I tried the cheap, mid and expensive and will tell you first hand the expensive are the way to go for serious glassing. My first trip I literally sunburnt my eyeballs from crappy binos. I thought they were going to pop out of my head by the end of the trip. I settled for 10 power steiners but can tell a MAJOR difference when I switch to my father Sawarskis
(about $600 bones more). If you have the money save for the best you can afford and save some more.

Yea I applied for the Oryx hunt this year but didn't get drawn. I have a WSMR badge so I can apply for the badge hunts but no luck there either. I've seen a ton of Oryx while quail hunting out there though so hopefully next year.

get good binocs first and save for a good spotting scope. Spotting scopes come in handy when you have to tell the size of the antlers\horns at quite a distance. Spotting scopes are heavy but save you from walking lots.

Binos then a spotting scope. I've found that top of the line binos can nearly replace a spotting scope in the field. That being said beyond 600~700 yards, spotting scopes really start to shine with larger power and bigger objectives.

Also top shelf spotters come in around $2000+, while top flight binos are around $1800+. However there are some binos like the Zeiss Conquest that get you close to that top flight clarity but come in around $800-$900. I'm not aware of a $800-$900 spotter that gets you close to the same clarity as a top of the line Zeiss or Swarovski. I think you get more bang for your buck by going the bino route.

While I was up on the mountains looking for some elk, we spotted some off in the distance. And while I was glassing these elk I couldn’t quite pick up the details of these elk because they were clear out there, and because I couldn’t keep steady enough to get a clear picture of what I was looking at. I told my brother, “I can’t really tell ‘cause I’m shaking.” He gave me the best piece of glassing advice I’ve ever been told (‘cause how many glassing tips can there really be...